How to Make an Amazon Warranty Claim in 2022 (Complete Guide)
Dealing with a defective or damaged product can be frustrating. But when you make the right warranty claim moves, you can get your issue resolved quickly and easily.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through exactly how to make an Amazon warranty claim in 2022.
You‘ll learn how the process works, which Amazon products have warranties, what‘s covered (and what‘s not), plus helpful troubleshooting tips from my decade of experience as an Amazon seller.
Whether you need a replacement item or refund, I‘ve got you covered. Let‘s dive in!
Step 1: Starting Your Amazon Warranty Claim
The first step is simple – log into your Amazon account and pull up the order with the item you need to claim a warranty for.
Go to Your Orders and find the correct order. Click "Return or Replace Items." This opens a return request.
Select the item(s) you need to return from that order. Even if you just need a replacement and not a refund, start here.
Amazon gives you some return reason options. Choose "No longer needed/wanted" or "Wrong item sent." This flags it as a warranty claim.
Print the return shipping label Amazon provides and put it on the box. Gather any accessories that came with it too.
Double check Amazon‘s return instructions, then ship it back using their label. This gets the process moving!
Once Amazon receives your return, a refund will typically be issued within 3-5 business days if you requested one. Pretty smooth so far, right?
Step 2: Getting Your Replacement Item
If you opted for a replacement instead of a refund, Amazon will process a new order and ship out your replacement item once they receive the original back.
This is one reason it‘s important to send back any accessories, manuals, cables, etc that came with the original product. The replacement will come with the same stuff.
You may be able to choose expedited shipping for a faster delivery on the replacement. If not, it will default to the shipping speed of your original order.
If you don‘t receive tracking details for the replacement item within 7 days of returning your original product, I‘d recommend contacting Amazon customer service. They can look into it.
I know the back-and-forth isn‘t always fun, but this process allows Amazon to honor the warranty and gets you a working version of the product you paid for. Hang in there!
Which Amazon Products Have Warranties?
Now that you know how to file a warranty claim with Amazon, you‘re probably wondering which products are actually under warranty.
The good news is that most new items sold on Amazon have at least a basic manufacturer‘s warranty. Here are some of the most common categories:
Electronics: 1 year minimum warranty. Includes tablets, laptops, smartphones, speakers, headphones, PC components, gaming accessories, smart home devices, and more. High-end electronics often have 2-3 year warranties.
Appliances: 1-5 years, depending on the item. Refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, vacuums, and small kitchen appliances are typically 1-2 years. Laundry units fall in the 2-5 year range.
Furniture: Average of 1-3 years. Cheaper furniture could be 1 year, while high-end living room sets and bedroom collections often have 3-5 year warranties.
Mattresses: 10 years is standard for mattress warranties, but some offer 15-25 years. Coverage is for manufacturing and material defects, but sagging issues are common.
Tools: Hand tools, power tools, and tool storage from leading brands usually come with "Limited Lifetime" warranties covering defects. Includes brands like DeWalt, Husky, Milwaukee.
Fitness: Parts like consoles and motors get 1-3 years. Expect lifetime warranties on frames for equipment like treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bikes.
Now let‘s look at some warranty stats across Amazon‘s best selling categories:
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Category | Average Warranty Length |
---|---|
Consumer Electronics | 1-2 years |
Home & Kitchen | 1-5 years |
Tools & Home Improvement | Lifetime/Defects |
Toys & Games | 90 days – 1 year |
Sports & Outdoors | 1-2 years (frames lifetime) |
Automotive Parts | 1-2 years new, 90 days rebuilt |
As you can see, most new merchandise sold directly by Amazon comes with some type of included warranty for defects. Now let‘s look at what‘s actually covered.
What Does an Amazon Warranty Cover?
Amazon‘s standard manufacturer‘s warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship that cause an item to malfunction or fail during normal usage within the warranty period.
Here are some examples of issues that would be eligible for a warranty claim:
Electronics failing to power on or operate normally. For example, a laptop that won‘t charge or boot up.
Major home appliances breaking down due to premature part failure – a refrigerator compressor giving out, a washer motor malfunctioning, etc.
Structural issues with furniture, like frames splitting or joints breaking. Sagging that exceeds acceptable limits in mattresses.
Power tools that stop working due to internal electrical or mechanical issues. Saw blades or drill chucks cracking.
Fitness equipment components like consoles, motors, hydraulics, etc breaking down or seizing up before expected lifespans.
Severe cosmetic damage present upon unboxing a new item, like cracks, chips or major dents that affect structure.
Incorrect interior parts or components inside sealed items you didn‘t open until after the return/exchange period.
Those types of manufacturing defects are generally covered under standard Amazon warranties. But not everything falls under the protection.
What is NOT Covered by Amazon Warranties?
There are a few cases where you can‘t expect an Amazon warranty to apply:
Customer Induced Damage: Defects caused by improper use, carelessness, unauthorized modifications, or accidents/damage done by the owner are not eligible for warranty claims.
Normal Wear & Tear: The natural breakdown of parts over time from normal usage is not considered a defect. Examples would be brake pad wear or a battery losing capacity.
Cosmetic Issues: Scratches, scuffs, dents, chips in paint or finish that are purely visual and don‘t impair functionality are typically not covered after use.
Regular Maintenance: Maintaining, cleaning and tuning up products per the owner‘s manual is required. Issues from lack of maintenance are not covered.
Commercial Use: Using an item designed and marketed for personal/residential use in a commercial setting often voids the manufacturer‘s warranty.
Consumables: Replacement of parts like air filters, vacuum bags, printer ink, etc that are designed to be replaced frequently are your responsibility.
Be sure to read the full warranty terms for your specific product. If any exclusions seem unclear, don‘t hesitate to contact Amazon customer service for assistance before making a claim.
Helpful Troubleshooting Tips for Amazon Warranty Claims
After a decade of selling on Amazon and handling countless warranty claims, I‘ve got some tips to share that can help smooth the process:
Keep documentation – Having your original receipt, invoice, or packaging showing the warranty period can speed up claim processing.
Take clear photos – Showing clear, well-lit shots of the damage or issues from multiple angles helps present your case.
Pack items securely – Use original packaging when possible, and include all accessories that were in the box. This prevents shipping damage.
Describe issues accurately – Clearly explain the problem, but don‘t speculate. Stick to factual defects. Use notes or diagrams if helpful.
Research solutions – Reading warranty info, manuals, and troubleshooting guides can often identify simpler fixes first.
Be patient, yet persistent – Understand claims take time to process, but follow up if issues drag on over 2 weeks.
Avoid repairs – Unless approved by the manufacturer, unauthorized repairs often void warranties.
Mind expiration dates – Initiate claims as soon as defects are noticed, and before warranty coverage ends.
Know what‘s excluded – Damage from accidents, neglect, normal wear and tear are not covered (extended plans may cover some).
Be polite – Kindness and understanding goes a long way if problems crop up. Yelling or threats almost never help.
Equipped with the right knowledge, you can feel confident tackling any warranty claim issues on Amazon purchases. Let‘s wrap up with some key takeaways.
Quick Summary: Making Amazon Warranty Claims
Start claims through Your Orders. Select item(s), choose a return reason like "defective."
New electronics, appliances, furniture, tools, fitness goods typically have 1-5 year warranties. Some provide lifetime defect coverage.
Manufacturer defects are covered. Damage, wear and tear, maintenance are excluded.
Keep purchase proof, take photos, pack securely, describe defect accurately, and avoid repairs.
Be patient but follow up if needed. Mind expiration dates. Stay polite.
Expect hassle-free resolution on valid claims thanks to Amazon‘s great warranty processes.
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide has removed any concerns you had about making an Amazon warranty claim. Although the specifics vary for each product, the steps I outlined will start you off right.
The key is to document your issue, handle items with care, clearly communicate problems, and politely follow up if your claim seems stalled. With reasonable expectations, Amazon and sellers do aim for quick resolutions.
Warranties give peace of mind you‘re covered against early product failures. And by handling claims properly, you can get your problems resolved with minimal disruption or added expense.
So next time something goes wrong with an Amazon purchase, you‘ll know just what to do. Best of luck resolving those claims! Let me know if any other questions pop up.